Chapter 33: Jump Float, Reception
The score reached 2-1.
In the stands:
"Oh! Shiratorizawa really lives up to its reputation!"
"Yeah, that super-jumping captain from Yukigaoka didn't even get three points on his first serve rotation."
"But I feel like Shiratorizawa had some luck with that ball."
"That's normal—luck is also part of the game."
Not paying attention to the words from the audience, or rather, not hearing them clearly, Goshiki was indeed in good condition at the moment.
'Good, that spike just now—from the approach to the power delivery—my body had a light but explosive feeling.'
'And that miraculous shot too. Looks like I'm in good form today.'
'Alright! Let's have an exhilarating battle with them!'
It was Shiratorizawa's serve rotation, and the opposing number 3 player was also patting and stroking the volleyball to temporarily enhance his feel and control over the ball.
Goshiki slowly turned around, giving his serving teammate a trusting look and raising his thumb.
"Serve boldly!"
"Victory belongs to Shiratorizawa!"
Both Shiratorizawa's coach and setter looked at Goshiki's performance with satisfaction, nodding together.
"Not bad, not bad. He's starting to look like a captain."
Little did they know, this was what Goshiki was actually thinking:
'Perfect! That was definitely cool just now! I read a story in Monthly Volleyball magazine when I was in elementary school about a captain who said those words to his teammates and was voted the coolest captain of the year.'
'I've been thinking about this in my head for years! Finally got the chance to say it when encouraging my teammates!'
Meanwhile, Hinata Shoyo on the other side also heard those words.
He pressed his lips together.
'Damn it! That bowl cut guy's words were so cool! I want to do something like that too!'
Behind him, Ichise Guren was completely out of sync with these two guys whose heads were full of 'coolness.'
He quietly looked at his right hand, a flash of ferocity passing through his calm eyes as an almost imperceptible smile curved his lips.
"Your stress resistance is quite good. This kind of opponent... is worth crushing!"
The referee blew the eight-second serve whistle.
Shiratorizawa's number 3 server also had some small skills, following right after the referee's whistle with a jump float serve.
"!"
All of Yukigaoka went on alert, because not one player on their team could serve a jump float. In all their past games, they had never encountered this type of serve.
For jump serves, they wouldn't dare say they could handle them easily, but at least they had some understanding.
But for jump floats, they were truly clueless.
"I've got it!"
Hoshino Masaru, the team's libero, stepped forward without hesitation.
After all, as Yukigaoka's player with the highest successful dig rate, when he went to receive the ball, his teammates always felt a sense of security.
But...
'I've never faced a jump float serve either! What middle schooler serves jump floats! I think you're supposed to use overhead passing to receive it better.'
Facing the jump float that wasn't very fast, Hoshino Masaru was confident he could successfully receive it based on his thoroughly trained reception skills. He might not deliver a great first pass, but he basically wouldn't whiff the receive.
"Crap!"
Tweet tweet!
That jump float serve from the other side suddenly changed trajectory just as Hoshino Masaru was about to make contact. Having no experience receiving serves with trajectory changes like this, Hoshino Masaru couldn't adjust his hand position in time, and the referee called him for a double contact.
"Nice serve!!"
Goshiki was first to run quickly to the number 3 player's side, giving him the first high-five.
The other players also came forward with smiles for a small celebration.
Just as Shiratorizawa began celebrating their side's point, across the net...
Yukigaoka's libero, seeing that his violation had given the opponents a point, bringing the scoreboard to 2-2.
Hoshino Masaru fell into silence for a moment, feeling like he might have made a poor decision.
'It's just one ball, it should be fine.'
'But if I had let Shoyo or the captain receive it just now, they might have been able to get it up.'
'I should apologize to everyone first.'
"Sorry!"
Hoshino Masaru apologetically apologized for losing the point due to his violation.
"It's my fault! If..."
"It's fine~ Hoshino, if you couldn't receive it, none of the rest of us on the team could have either, right?"
Straightforward and honest Hinata Shoyo had that matter-of-fact expression again.
"Of course you should receive that ball. If you can't get it, that just proves the rest of us definitely couldn't either, since your reception ability is the strongest among us."
Seeing that Hoshino Masaru seemed a bit confused, thinking he might not have heard clearly, Hinata Shoyo repeated what he had just said.
This time he spoke even more clearly and simply.
At the same time, a hand was placed on Hoshino Masaru's shoulder.
Looking back, Ichise Guren was looking at him with a slight frown: "What's wrong? Shoyo is absolutely right. Don't you agree?"
"Captain, I just..."
Hoshino Masaru was about to say he might have made a poor decision just now, but was immediately interrupted by Ichise Guren.
"Easy, easy! Whatever you want to say, you need to get the next ball up for me! If you can't get that one up, you definitely need to get the one after that."
"Go receive with confidence! As long as you can get it up, no matter what the quality of the first pass is, Mori and I will convert your pass into points on the scoreboard!"
"Go do what you do best with peace of mind!"
"Yukigaoka's strongest support!"
Hoshino Masaru clenched his fist, revealing his eyes from beneath his blue bangs, full of determination.
"I'll definitely get it up!"
***
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